It was already noon when Damon left. Celeste's body was aching all over. Not wanting to move at all, she hid under her blanket and wanted to sleep. Spencer couldn't find her last night. He'd sent her a text on WhatsApp to ask where she was. She was only free to reply to him at noon. "I was tired last night, so I went back home first. I forgot to tell you," Celeste replied. Spencer texted, "Do you think I'll believe that, Celeste?" After he couldn't find Celeste, he went back to the banquet hall. Damon was gone too. He had a reason to believe that Damon took her with him. Celeste didn't answer him. Whether or not he believed her, she could do nothing about it. Spencer promised to give her two days off after the exhibition, so she rested more in the afternoon. Celeste wanted to take an afternoon nap, but she couldn't calm her mind down. She could only think of how Damon hugged her, called her his darling, and kissed her earlobe. After being separated for such a long tim
For a moment, Celeste didn't know how to comfort Megan. "I've decided to go on blind dates. I'll start tomorrow." The white wine arrived. Megan stumbled on her way to open the door and take it. "You're just 21. You're not in a rush at all." That was all Celeste could say. She didn't know what Winston could be thinking. Although he was handsome, rich, and charming, he was almost 20 years older than Megan. Perhaps he was afraid of holding her back. But since she didn't hear it directly from him, she couldn't defend him for this reason either. After the two of them drank half of the bottle, Megan went to the bathroom and threw up. Then, she lay on the couch and slowly dozed off. Celeste held her and helped her rinse her mouth. She was about to get a hot towel for her. "Winston, you're a bad guy. I like you." Megan mumbled in her sleep. "You're a bad guy…" She sounded like she was sobbing. When Celeste reached out to touch her face, it was wet with tears. Heartbroken, Cel
Winston's story was way more interesting than what he'd told Celeste. If Celeste was willing to delve deeper, she'd realize that the ways they'd grown up were almost identical. They even hired the same fixer, which was Kenny. The person who helped Kenny in earning his first paycheck was none other than Winston. The difference lay in how their relationships evolved respectively. Damon knew that Celeste didn't love him at first, but he gradually developed feelings for her. On the other hand, Winston and his wife shared a strong relationship since the start. But things started to fall apart when he managed to get what he wanted. His wife thought that he did everything just so that he could use her, and that she was just a tool to help Winston in reaching his goals. "I succeeded in taking revenge, but I lost her. That's the one thing I regretted the most in my life." Winston's eyes were soft and sad. "Misunderstandings can be explained. But she passed away. She got into a car acc
Sherry was from a prestigious family and was as pretty as a doll. Nobody had ever dared to belittle her. After not getting what she wanted, she went back home and cried to her parents. The next day, Damon just arrived at the company when Liam brought an invitation to him. He was invited to the Holmer residence. Jordan helped Damon out before after all, so Damon didn't dare to turn him down. He asked Liam to prepare a box of gold as a gift for them. He thought that he'd have to entertain Sherry again and he was mentally prepared for it. To his surprise, Jordan's secretary brought Damon to his tea room. Only Jordan was there. "Mr. Holmer," Damon greeted him politely as he passed Jordan the gift. "Damon, you can just call me Uncle Jordan." Jordan gave Damon a friendly smile, showing a warm attitude as a leader. Damon obliged. "Uncle Jordan." Jordan nodded in reply. He poured Damon a cup of tea. "It's my fault for not raising my daughter well. Sherry is too headstrong. Wh
From then on, Damon started to go out with Sherry as expected. The upper-class circle wasn't big in Taverdale. The news reached Celeste within just a week. "You'll be in my life from now on. Let's care for each other and not let each other down." Megan sent a screenshot of Sherry's post to Celeste. Sherry attached a picture of the back of a tall man. That silhouette was all too familiar to Celeste. She had gazed at his back countless times, marveling at how handsome he looked even from the back. His figure was so well-proportioned and regal. "Damon is such a piece of trash. He was going after you not long ago, but he has gone official with Sherry now." Megan hadn't even healed from her own heartbreak yet, but she had the energy to complain for Celeste. Celeste's heart throbbed. Her mind went blank for a long time. Sherry was adorable and pretty, so it wouldn't be strange for Damon to feel attracted to her. Celeste just didn't expect that they'd be together so soon. It d
Why was she everywhere? Celeste should feel sorry for herself instead of seeing Sherry and Damon here. Before Celeste could speak, Megan stretched an arm out and hid Celeste behind. "This is a public place and not your house. Of course, we can be here as well." "You just happened to know that Damon and I are here to see some friends, so you wanted to get his attention! Why bother putting up an act?" Ignoring Megan, Sherry continued to attack Celeste. "Sherry, certain things that you cherish might just be trash that was thrown away by others. Not everyone cares about whatever you care about." Megan couldn't stand her as she talked down to Sherry. Her analogy made Celeste burst out laughing. She didn't know that her best friend was so good at talking. Maybe Megan got her skills from arguing with Celeste's anti-fans online when she was the topic of gossip. The thought of that was hilarious to Celeste. She looked at Megan with gratitude. Did Megan just say that he was a piece o
"It must have something to do with looks then." After being silent for a while, Megan suddenly spoke up. "What?" Winnie was confused. "I said, the reason why you don't have a complicated history of relationships must have something to do with looks. After all, beautiful women are always slandered by others, but normal-looking ones would never experience such a thing. In that case…" Megan sized Winnie up with a smile. "Having an average face isn't a bad thing at all." "Pfft!" Caro choked on his drink and started coughing. "It's only been a few years since I last saw you. How did you—" How did she become so good at talking? Winny couldn't maintain her composure anymore after being told that. "Celeste got famous because she slept around with men. You're friends with her. Of course, you're the same too." She continued to attack them. The men who were sitting around them couldn't stand this anymore. Anyone could tell that Winnie was trying to pick a fight. "We're all schoolm
Celeste had probably had a few drinks. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were watery. When she saw Damon leaning against the wall smoking, she pouted. She was going to leave. Damon had been missing her so much for the past two days, so how could he let her go? He put out his cigarette and strode over. He reached out to hold her waist. "Let me go!" Celeste demanded. She stepped on his foot with her heels. Damon carried her and pushed her against the wall. "Do you hate that girl or something? Why did you let her pay for the whiskey?" Damon didn't sound like he was asking a question. Instead, his voice was seductive as he whispered into her ear. He was amazed by how evil this woman could be. "She's Carly's friend. She should take responsibility as well since Liam got slapped." Celeste snickered. "I was generous enough to only scam her for two bottles of alcohol." "What a vengeful woman." Damon chuckled. Celeste's ear was sensitive. When he breathed into her ear, her f
He never would have imagined that the intelligent and aloof Celeste would have a day like this, appearing adorably naive and innocent.Damon used to like girls who were delicate and pure, but that changed when he met Celeste.She had a face full of charm and allure, but her expression and personality were always cold and unyielding. She was pale and slim, yet not childlike. On the contrary, she resembled a young poplar tree, proud and upright.Because of her, he began to like girls who sparked his desire to conquer, and he scoffed at those who were simply weak and shy.But now with Celeste like this, he didn't feel annoyed. In fact, not only was he not annoyed, he actually found it cute and interesting.“What's your name?” she asked again."Damon.""Oh, that sounds really nice."The initial confusion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a sparkling glimmer, and her tone carried a touch of a young girl's excitement."You are actually my husband… Wow, great job, me! I've managed to
"What? Aren’t you my husband? Do I still need to avoid you while changing clothes?" The confusion in Celeste's eyes didn’t seem fake.Damon was speechless and didn't know how to respond at that moment.When Damon didn't respond, Celeste suddenly felt a bit nervous."I'm sorry… I can't remember clearly. Aren't you my husband?"Damon raised an eyebrow casually and asked, "Why do you think I am?"Celeste innocently blinked, her eyelashes fluttering like fans. "The nurse said it. Besides, if you're not my husband, why would you sleep with me at night?""What did the nurse say?" Her reasoning was actually logical and undeniable. For a moment, Damon found it somewhat amusing."The nurse said that my husband is really thoughtful," Celeste responded seriously. Then she asked, "Aren't you my husband? Then why would you be willing to stay here with me so late?"This one sentence left Damon speechless.The reason he was willing was because he was a coward. He said that he didn't care abo
Damon frowned upon hearing the classic amnesiac questions being asked."Celeste, are you trying to act out a TV drama?"Celeste still looked at him blankly. "What do you mean?"Damon didn't answer and went straight to the director's office to get Nicholas.Knowing her, she wasn't the type to joke around, especially not with Leo still missing. She must have hit her head hard.Nicholas was equally surprised and hurried back to the room with Damon.Celeste was sitting up, hugging her knees and staring into space."You're awake? How do you feel?" Nicholas asked with a smile as he entered."Why am I here?" Her voice sounded hesitant, and she turned to look at them.Her confusion seemed genuine. Nicholas and Damon exchanged worried glances."Celeste… you don't remember?""Celeste?" She asked, "Is that my name?""Yes.""I don't remember. My mind is blank.""Do you remember… Leo?" Nicholas hesitated. After all, if she knew that her child had been missing for three days, he was wo
"Alright," Celeste said in a deep voice. "Let me see Leo first."They pushed open the hidden door, revealing a staircase leading to the basement."Have Leo come to the stairway corner." She stood at the dark staircase and negotiated with the kidnapper."Mommy!" Suddenly, Leo's desperate cry echoed from inside."Leo!" Celeste ditched everything else and rushed down the stairs.She ran ahead, and as soon as she reached the corner, there was a loud explosion, and a wave of heat hit her face."Celeste!""Celeste!"Damon and Winston's faces changed drastically, shouting in alarm.The basement was empty. It was a trap.Had they been more careful, they would have noticed that both the kidnapper’s voice and Leo’s cry were artificially synthesized. But Celeste, in her desperation to save her son, had been too frantic to discern this.The basement was rigged with landmines. Unfortunately, something went wrong. The mine exploded when Celeste reached the stairway corner, instead of when
What? Damon was also coming? Celeste felt her heart leap, and her voice became sharper as she said, "I can handle this. You can't come!"There was no response from his end.Observing Damon’s silence, Celeste quickly softened her tone. "Damon, listen to me. I can handle this alone. There's no need for you to get involved… because I'm their main target, and they likely won't harm Leo. You need to stay home and wait for him. You need to take care of him later on…""Celeste," Damon interrupted coldly. "Are you planning on not coming out alive?"Of course, coming out alive would be ideal, but she couldn’t guarantee that."Damon, I do have a chance of surviving, but when it comes to exchanging myself for Leo, there can be no room for error. We must follow the kidnapper's instructions to ensure Leo's safety."It was out of the question to provide a false sense of security and pretend to comply with the kidnapper, only to backtrack and get Leo killed.She needed to ensure Leo’s safety a
They checked all the surveillance footage near the Bishop residence and investigated every suspicious vehicle. They also had people keeping an eye on Henry, but after half a day, there was still no breakthrough.The kidnappers had taken Leo to threaten Celeste, and the lack of communication was meant to unnerve her. If it was according to predictions, she was supposed to wait for their demands. But, as a mother, she couldn't just sit and do nothing.Celeste remembered that Shannon had called her, so she found her contact in the blacklist and called."Shannon, did you and Henry kidnap Leo?" she demanded.Shannon laughed coldly. "Don't accuse us without any evidence. Your son is missing? Maybe it's karma. Hahaha!"Celeste hung up, unable to stand Shannon's smugness.Several teams searched for over 20 hours, even involving the police, but still had no solid leads. Celeste suspected Henry, but they couldn't just arrest him without any proof.She was extremely desperate. She didn't e
"Lester isn't as clever as Leo. He's just a four-year-old child, and he shouldn't have done anything like that," Serena instinctively defended Lester. Then, recalling the last time she had misunderstood Leo for similar reasons, she felt a pang of guilt and added, "I don't mean to imply anything… I'll have someone bring Lester here."Celeste nodded. "I'm not blaming Lester. I just want to understand what happened."Soon, the nanny looking after Lester brought him in. Unexpectedly, upon seeing Celeste, Lester burst into tears."Aunty Celeste, please don't hit me. I didn't mean to lose my brother!""Lester, I just want to understand what happened." Celeste was taken aback by his crying but kneeled down to speak gently. "I'm not blaming you. Can you tell me what you saw that day?""Aunty Celeste, don't hit me!" Lester kept crying, not saying a word about Leo's disappearance."Am I that scary, Lester?"At this moment, Celeste felt at a loss. She could communicate normally with Leo,
Celeste perfectly understood what Cedric's implied. "I mean, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to entertain me today."Cedric had indeed wanted to help her that day, but his identity was too special to admit it openly. The scratch on the paper was a subtle hint, and whether or not she could interpret it depended on her intuition. The fact that she could decipher such a subtle hint proved her intelligence and luck.Over the years, Cedric had developed a sense of respect for Celeste after learning about her. He felt she was deserving of assistance, but he couldn't make it obvious."However, be careful. I see that Henry is at the end of his rope and might act irrationally. You should be on guard," Cedric warned.Celeste nodded, having considered this as well. "Henry wants me dead."This was why she had her brother stay abroad and sent Leo to the Bishops. With only herself remaining, it was harder for Henry to use her loved ones against her."Take care of yourse
Celeste's deduction was correct. Cedric intentionally left the mark. As Winston dug deeper, he slowly uncovered a series of issues.It was a bridge project on a highway in a poor mountainous area. Not uncommon.The problem was that the person in charge of this project was a leader assigned from a first-tier city to oversee the development. Officially, he was recognised for his capabilities, but in reality, this task was one he had to succeed in without failure.He had offended someone, and this transfer was a disguised punishment under the guise of a major responsibility.If he had managed it well, the chances of him returning to a higher development role would have been slim. At best, he could stay in this position until retirement. If he didn't manage it well, his entire career could be ruined.Someone of such status naturally had supporters as well as opponents. In such a situation, it was impossible for anyone to sabotage and create pitfalls along the way."It seems the next